Professor Sergio Cavalaro

BSc PhD

Research and expertise

I am a civil engineer with 15 years of experience in building materials and structural engineering research and practice. My areas of research encompass innovative manufacturing processes for construction (Hybrid 3d printing), structural design, building materials (UHPC, FRC and other advanced cementitious composites), advanced modelling of cementitious materials performance and production processes (FEM, DEM, CFD), and durability (reinforced concrete corrosion and sulphate attack) applied to delivery and maintenance of infrastructure and buildings.

I have led and worked in 14 publicly-funded, peer-reviewed research projects worth more than £5.3 M to address urgent challenges in my field. I have published 80 refereed publications, supervised 16 PhD students to successful completion. I have a strong track record of collaboration with major stakeholders from the construction sector, equating to an enterprise income of more than £2.3 M. I have acted as an expert consultant in major infrastructure projects to solve challenging issues related to my research field. In 2018 I was awarded the RILEM Gustavo Colonnetti Medalfor outstanding scientific contribution to the fields of construction materials and structures.

I am a member of several scientific and standardisation committees in international organisations about infrastructure, advanced materials and advanced simulation techniques. I am also the deputy director of the multi-partner UKCRIC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure and Cities,and I welcome enquiries from postgraduates who wish to study for a PhD in my areas of research interest.

DURADOV (RTC-2015-3617-4): Development of segmental linings made of non-metallic FRC with high durability and improved sustainability (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) https://www.atem.upc.edu/duradov/

FIBHAC (RTC-2015-3185-4): Fibres and Self-Compacting Concrete. Development of a new concept of precast segments for tunnelling (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) https://www.atem.upc.edu/fibhac/

Expert reviewer of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (2017-present)

Expert reviewer of the Norwegian Research Council (2016-present)

External examiner, PhD programme of the Polytechnic School at Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil (2019-present)

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

Universities: Currently collaborate with colleagues in 15 Universities in Europe, the Americas and Asia

Technology companies: SIKA, BASF, IQE, Autodesk

Consultants: Mott MacDonald, Cundall, Foster and Partners

Background

I received a degree in Civil Engineering in 2006 from the Universidade Estadual de Londrina in Brazil. Then I continued my research career in Spain, focusing on concrete technology and underground infrastructure. In 2009 I was awarded a PhD for my research on technological aspects of tunnels built with tunnelling boring machines (TBM) and precast concrete segments from Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) with a European mention for the work developed at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. After a year as a research assistant, I became an Assistant Professor (2010-2015) at the School of Environmental and Civil Engineering of UPC. Then, I was promoted to Associate Professor (2015-2017).

Over a period of seven years, research interests were extended from the initial area of advanced special concretes (fibre reinforced concrete, ultra-high performance concrete, sprayed concrete, pervious concrete, conductive concrete, 3D printed concrete) and durability of concrete structure (sulfate attack and reinforced concrete corrosion) to advanced modelling of cementitious materials performance and production processes (FEM, DEM, CFD) and innovative manufacturing. In 2015, I co-founded a spin-out company that develops enhanced cementitious materials and provides advanced design and maintenance solutions for civil and urban infrastructure.

In November 2017, I joined the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering (ABCE) at Loughborough University as a Reader in Infrastructure Systems and member of the Structures and Materials Group. I ama Deputy Director of Doctoral Programmes at ABCE, Programme Director of the MSc in Infrastructure Design and Management and the Deputy Director of the UKCRIC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure and Cities.